Showtime
Records - This
Hollywood based label was founded by Peter Morgan and Austin McCoy in
April of 1954. Blues singer Smokey Hogg records "No More Whiskey" and
"Aint Gonna Play Second" for #1101. The Five Stars recorded "Walking
And Talking" and "Where Did Caldonia Go" for #1102. June Moy and The
Feathers record "Castle Of Dreams" / "Desert Winds" for Showtime
#1103, and The Feathers vocal group recorded "Johnny Darling" and
Nona" on #1104. They followed that up with a cover of The Jacks "Why
Don't You Write Me" on #1105. The flip side of that release was "Busy
As A Bumble Bee" by Johnny and Louis Staton. The Feathers return for
#1106 - "Crashing The Party" and "Love Only You". In April of 1955
Showtime Records files suit against Aladdin Records concerning
contract rights to Showtime's biggest sellers, The Feathers and to
halt distribution of the Aladdin version of the group's song "Johnny
Darling". The suit is not settled to Morgan's liking, and the end is
in sight for the label. Joy Shaw's "Daddy You Lied To Me" #1110, in
late 1956 is the last of the Showtime releases.

Discovery
Records - Owned and
operated by Albert Marx, the label is based in Hollywood and
specializes in modern jazz recordings. In May of 1950 noting the
increasing acceptance of Rhythm & Blues in Southern California,
Marx announces that Discovery will now move into the R & B field.
Marx and v.p. Dick Bock sign well known West Coast radio personality
Joe Adams to head A & R for the label. Signed to Discovery are
Helen Humes and Damita Jo. Humes records "Rock Me To Sleep" and "Sad
Feeling" with the Marshall Royal Combo on #519 in June of 1950. Humes
and Royal return for #520 - "This Love Of Mine" / "He May Be Yours".
Damita Jo records a cover of Laurie Tate's "Anytime, Any Place,
Anywhere" and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" for Discovery #523
and in August Claude "Mighty Man" Maxwell with the Eddie Williams
Orchestra records "Goodnight Irene" / "I Feel Like Shouting" on #524.
Eddie Williams re-records his Supreme Records tune "Blues In Cuba"
and "Meandering" on #526. Dizzy Gillespie does a recording date for
the label in November keeping their interest in modern jazz. In
December Discovery issues its very first 45 rpm release - Helen Humes
"E-Baba-Le-Ba" and "One Hour Tonight" on #530. At the end of the year
Discovery announces the signing of vocalist Lurlean Hunter, and will
release her recording of "Home Town Chicago" and "I Get A Warm
Feeling" from masters originally on the Seymour Records label. The
new release will be Discovery #533. In April of 1951 Helen Humes
"Helen's Advice" / "Airplane Blues" recorded with Dexter Gordon is
issued as #535. Soon after this record is released, the label ceases
operations and Helen Humes moves to Modern records.

One year later, Jack Bergman plans
to release jazz records on the Discovery label, after he and his
partner Saul Bolton buy the name and assets of the Albert Marx owned
label. In October of that year Discovery #1202 is released - Monte
Easter & His Orchestra "Casablanca Boogie" and "Pastel" with
vocal by Pat Reed. Jessie Mae Robinson records with the Monte Easter
Orchestra on #1203 - "Jessie Mae's Blues" / "That's The Secret". In
April of 1953 the label announces the signing of singer Joan Shaw,
but her records are released on a subsidiary label, Gem Records.
Discovery Records now joins the list of labels in the history of R
& B music as a minor player, but one that was present at the
time.

R and B Records
- The Hollywood based
label was founded by Al Schlesinger and Larry Goldberg in July of
1954. The first release for the label was the epic "Hearts Of Stone"
by The Jewels. The flip side was "Runnin'" and was release #1301.
"Hearts" took the R & B world by storm and the fledgling label
with the oh so appropriate name was off and, well, Runnin'. An
instrumental group, The Oscar Saldand Orchestra records "Mambo Hop"
and "The Bop Hop" for #1302. The Jewels riding the crest of their big
hit (even though it was covered successfully by The Charms) return
for "A Fool In Paradise" and "Oh Yes I Know" for #1303. The label
signs an up and coming West Coast vocal group Earl Curry and The
Blenders, and they soon record for the label with "Late Rising Moon"
/ "I Want To Be With You" on #1304. Johnny Torrence steps out in
front on lead with The Jewels for "Roasalie" on #1306 and the vocal
instrumental group The Rockin' Brothers record "Rock It" and "Behind
The Sun" on #1307. By now the label was realizing that duplicating
the success of their very first release was no easy task.
Distribution and airplay was also a problem with the ever expanding
presence of R & B all over the country the heavy players were now
getting involved. It was no easy task for the small independent to
keep going, and so R and B Records ended its short but exciting run.
There was one last release in February of 1955 by Earl Curry -
"Dream" / "Try And Get Me" on #1313. So ends the story of R and B
Records-one of the very first rock records I ever bought, a black and
yellow 78 rpm copy of "Hearts Of Stone". What a record, and what a
memory.

Timely
Records - This New
York City label was founded by Herman (Hy) Siegel in September of
1953. Siegel had been part of the founding of Apollo Records. The
label immediately signs two vocal groups - The Ambassadors and The
Gaytunes. The Ambassadors record the first release for the label
#1001 - "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry" and "Willa-Bea".Timely #1002 is
"Why Leave Me This Way" / "The Thrill Of Romance" by The Gay Tunes.
#1003 is by Otis Hinton - "Emmaline" and "Walking Down Hill". Release
#1004 is the notorious "Baptize Me In Wine" by Jalacy (soon to be
'Screamin' Jay) Hawkins. The flip side is "No Not Anymore". The
gospel music group The Colemanaires have two sides recorded for
Timely. #101 is the classic "Old Ship Of Zion" parts 1 and 2 with
Cynthia Coleman on vocals, and #102 is "Somebody Save Me" / "Joy In
The Prayer Room". Jalacy Hawkins goes at it again on "I Found My way
To Wine" and "Please Try To Understand" on #1005, and new artist Ann
Cole records "Danny Boy" / "Smiling Through" on #1006. More gospel
sides come out as The Sweet Tones Of Israel record "All On The Altar"
on #104 and The Colemanaires on "Out On The Ocean sailing" / "Be
Ready When He Comes" on #105. Ann Cole returns for "Oh Love Of Mine"
/ "I'll Find A Way" on #1007. Charlie (Little Jazz) Ferguson records
the interesting double - "Low Lights" and "High Beam Mambo" on #1008.
The vocal group The Charmers formerly on Central Records, sign with
Timely and record "I Was Wrong" / "The Mambo" for Timely #1009, and
Ann Cole records #1010l in late 1954, "I'm So Proud Of You" and "Down
In The Valley". There is one last release by The Charmers - "The
Church On The Hill" / "Battle Axe" on #1011. During the summer Apollo
Records buys out Timely and its masters and assets. One last release
is the gospel release #106 by The Willet Sisters - "Lay Down Your
Heavy Load" / "Don't Take Everyone To Be Your Friend". So ends the
short story of an interesting independent label remembered most for
its vocal group sides and a sound that captured the moment that R
& B music started its move toward the American mainstream.

Drexel Records
- The Chicago based
recording company was founded by Les Caldwell formerly with King
Records, and Paul King in early 1954. The vocal group The Gems record
"Let's talk About The Weather" and "Deed I Do" on Drexel #901 in July
of 1954. Singer Dorothy Logan records "Small Town Man" and the pop
and R & B classic "Since I Fell For You" on #902. The Gems return
with #903 - "I Thought You'd Care" and "Kitty From New York City".
The next release is "Old Man River" and "You're Tired Of Love" by The
Gems on #904. A new vocal group The Gay Notes records "For Only A
Moment" and "Pu Pu Pa Doo" on #905. Singer Dave Turner records
"Atlantic City Boardwalk" and "I'm All Yours Sugar" on #906. The Gems
recorded two more sides for Drexel - "The Darkest Night" and "One
Woman Man" on #909, and "Till The Day I Die" on #915 in 1957. As with
Timely Records, Drexel is mostly remembered for the vocal group sides
that endure. This local Chicago indie made its mark and provided
precious moments in the history of the music we all recall so fondly.

Allen Records
- Based in New York,
the company is run by Victor Allen. The general manager is Peter
Doraine former head of Abbey Records. The first masters purchased by
the label are by singer Bill Harrington. The vocal group The Five
Willows record "My Dear Dearest Darling" on Allen #1000. The flip
side is the uniquely named "Rock Little Francis". Allen #1001 is by
Bill Harrington - "Wedding Day" / "Give Me Love". In July the label
signs singer-pianist Hazel Scott formerly of Decca and Capitol
Records. In September The Five Willows record #1002 - "All Night
Long" and "Delores". The next release #1003 also by The Five Willows
is a cover of Eddie Fisher's pop music hit "With These Hands" and the
flip side is the group standard "White Cliffs Of Dover". Jimmy
Newsome records "I'm Gonna Chuck You Down" on #1005. By the years
end, the end had also come to the Allen record company. The top
attraction of the label, The Five Willows signed with Herald and in
two years would find great success on Melba records. Allen went out
of business at the end of 1954, another name to remember when.

Cool
Records - This Chicago
label founded in April of 1953 by Charlie Bennett was a product of
the Co-Ben Recording Company. Cool #101 is by Hubert Beard with the
Bob Carter Orchestra and featured "Gal You Need A Whipping" (this
would never survive the pc concious milennium - especially the trade
mag ads for this record !) bw "One Half Hour". This is the only
documented release, but there were reportedly two other records cut
for the label - "Half Past" by Brother Brown and Hubert Beard on
"Luxury Tax Blues" / "Oh That Rhythm".

Authentic Records
- This label from Los
Angeles was an offshoot of the Dootone label. Dootsie Williams felt
at the time that he could benefit from an additional outlet for some
of the local R & B talent in the L.A. area. In June of 1956 the
first release #701 was by Fats Gaines & His Orchestra - "Katy
Lee" voc by Mac Burney, and "You're With Me Baby" voc by Nap Henry.
The next Authentic release was by the gospel group The Friendly Five
which paired "Stand Up For The Lord" and "Jesus Will Answer Your
Prayer". In July Willie Headen & The Five Birds recorded "Back
Home Again" bw "I Wanna Know" on #703. Now Authentic changed their
numbering system to the 400s and the next release documented is #403
by Fats Gaines & His Orchestra with vocals by Rebecca Williams on
"My Man Is Gone" and "It's Tragic". The last release for the label
appears to be #410 by Willie Headen & The Five Birds - "Let Me
Cry" and "The Skinny Woman Story". Shortly after its release, it was
re-released as Dootone #410, and that spelled the end for the
Authentic Records label.